US 12,453,555 B2
Firing lockout for linear surgical stapler
Andrew C. Deck, Cincinnati, OH (US); Matthew S. Williamson, Milford, OH (US); and John J. Newman, West Chester, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/509,723.
Prior Publication US 2025/0152170 A1, May 15, 2025
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/072 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07214 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 17/2833 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
16. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a first stapler half having a first distal jaw portion configured to present a stapling assembly having a plurality of staples;
(b) a second stapler half having a second distal jaw portion configured to present an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets, wherein the first and second stapler halves are configured to selectively couple together and separate from one another;
(c) a clamp presented by one of the first stapler half or the second stapler half, wherein the clamp is actuatable by a user from a first position to a second position to approximate the first and second stapler halves and thereby clamp tissue between the first and second distal jaw portions;
(d) a firing assembly presented by the first stapler half, wherein the firing assembly is actuatable by a user through a firing stroke to fire the stapling assembly on the clamped tissue, wherein the firing assembly includes a firing actuator movable by the user between a retracted position and a deployed position in which the firing actuator is configured to actuate the firing assembly through the firing stroke; and
(e) a firing lockout presented by the second stapler half, wherein the firing lockout is configured to engage the firing assembly and thereby inhibit its advancement through the firing stroke when the first and second stapler halves are not fully approximated with the clamp in the second position.